SHADEPORTS

At ACS Awnings we provide cantilever and conventional shadeports. Shadeports are a unique and economical alternative to traditional garages.

There are many advantages a shadeport has over a garage:

A shadeport can be built in 1 or 2 days

The cost of a shadeport is a fraction of the cost of building a garage

In general you do not need to apply for permission to construct a shadeport

The passage of air currents dries off rain and damp instead of allowing it to cling overnight

The shadecloth is approved by the cancer association. A shadeport comprises of a structural frame across which a shade cloth type of material or net is pulled to provide shade cover for a vehicle which is parked beneath it. The structural frame of the shade port can vary greatly in terms of material, method of construction and design. Timber frame shadeports are suited to creating individual shade spaces for private and domestic use and can be designed to complement the existing design of the house.

Timber shadeports tend to be more custom made shadeports, built individually to the clients required specification. Steel frame carports are usually made from tubular steel and are suitable for both domestic use and for providing shade for hundreds or even thousands of parking bays at places such as South Africa’s large International Airports like Johannesburg International Airport, Cape Town International Airport or Durban International Airport where hundreds of parking bays require a cost effective and economical shadeport shade solution.

Large regional shopping centers like Gateway and The Pavilion at Westville, near Durban also require shadeports or carports to provide shade for some parking bays.

Types of Steel Shadeports

There are a number of options as far as steel framed shadeports are concerned. The first comprises a structure supported by four tubular steel legs each of which is either fixed to the ground or simply stands on it depending upon whether or not the shadeport is intended to be portable and can therefore be relocated.

The other option is the cantilever shadeport in which the steel framework is supported at only one end by legs fixed into the ground with the horizontal spans beam out over the parking space. The advantage of beam shadeports or carports is that vehicles have a bigger turning circle space when entering or exiting the parking bay.

Some shadeports use stainless steel tension cables to keep the shade net or shade cloth in place. It is preferable to have galvanised steel used in the construction of the shadeport structure especially in coastal regions where rust could be a problem.